Target of hundred messages after a trial at the Assize Court, the penalist filed a complaint on Tuesday, January 31, for death threats and cyberbullying.
by Richard Schittly (Lyon, correspondent)
The Lyon lawyer David Metaxas filed a complaint for death threats, acts of intimidation, insults, defamation and cyberbullying, in a letter addressed on January 31 to the public prosecutor of Lyon. The penalty is the target of a violent campaign, receiving hundreds of insulting and threatening electronic messages, by email and on social networks. In his complaint, the lawyer also mentions a photomontage, representing a hung rope next to his portrait, as well as hateful declarations relayed by sites close to the ultra -right. His accounts are saturated with abusive remarks, some of which mention the address of his cabinet, and invite to attack him. “I dream of dragging you on 800 [meters],” says an anonymous account.
This last formula refers to the trial which sparked this campaign. On January 23, the Lyon Assize Court condemned Youcef Tebbal, 24, to twelve years of imprisonment, for “voluntary violence which led to death without intention to give it”. The young man, with no judicial history, was considered guilty of having caused the death of Axelle Dorier, 22, in unbearable conditions, in July 2020. After a brawl in a Fourvière park, in the 5 D/SUP> Lyon arrondissement, Youcef Tebbal wanted to flee behind the wheel of his car, when he overturned and dragged the young woman over a kilometer. The victim’s body was shredded. He says he was not aware of hitting the young woman, in a feeling of panic. The drama has raised a strong emotion locally.
“deleterious climate”
Defended by M e metaxas, the driver was acquitted by the chief of accusation of murder. The verdict caused the victim’s entourage, considering the qualification and insufficient sentence, with regard to the circumstances of the drama. Incidents broke out in the courtroom. Witnesses say they saw a relative of the victim to make a Nazi salute, which the interested party disputed. After this scene of clashes, an investigation was opened, and three people, close to the entourage of the accused this time, were convicted of violence on agents of the public force to sentences of suspended imprisonment, the The next day, at the hearing of immediate appearances of the Lyon court.
Outside the courthouse, an ultra -right group rolled out a banner, in support of the victim’s family, giving the case a racist reading. The following days, the wave of denigration and threats has continued to increase, targeting the condemned, his lawyer, and even a witness who participated in the trial. In his complaint, quoting extracts noted by report of bailiff, David Metaxas mentions a series of exchanges on the Telegram social network, between groups affiliated with the ultra -right Lyon. “I cannot allow such a deleterious climate to settle. We are beyond the challenge of a court decision, this drama is used in a disturbing manner,” says David Metaxas. The Lyon prosecution has opened a preliminary investigation to seek to identify and locate the authors of the many messages.